Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thy King Cometh
(Zechariah 9:9-17)
The Old Testament reveals two separate advents of the Messiah, recognizable from a New Testament perspective. Zechariah 9:9 presents a detailed prediction regarding Christ’s first advent. The church recognizes the fulfillment of this prophecy when we celebrate Palm Sunday, Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The Gospels assure us that Jesus Christ is the promised King of Zechariah 9:9 (Mt. 21:5, Jn. 12:5).
In His First Advent, Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The choice of animal is significant. You see, a donkey symbolized one who came in peace. Military campaigns did not include armies mounted on donkeys. In His first advent, Jesus came humbly in peace, offering salvation. As we are well aware, the people responded with unbridled enthusiasm. Some of the same people, however, consented to His crucifixion less than a week later.
Christ’s Second Advent finds depiction in verse 10. Here He comes as a warrior subduing the heathen. Revelation 19:11 tells us He will have exchanged the donkey for a white horse—the mount of a warrior. It is Christ who will subdue the kingdoms of this earth and establish the Davidic throne at Jerusalem from which He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.
Between verses 9 and 10 is the time period in which we are now living, known as the church age or age of grace. It is the time in which the Lord (in fulfillment of prophecy) is calling out a Gentile bride, the church. How long this age will last is unknown; but what is certain is that just as Jesus came the first time with salvation, He will come the second time to deliver His saints and judge the world. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
